Umatilla County commissioners on Nov. 25 continued the second reading of a proposed ATV/PTV ordinance after public comment and staff presentations raised questions about the map of roads included, signage costs and potential conflicts with tribal reservation boundaries.

An email read into the record from landowner Chad Dodd described escalating problems on Government Mountain Road — including late-night parties, firearms, vandalism and trespassing — and asked that the county close the road to the public. "We are asking the Government Mountain Road be closed to the public," the email said, citing safety, timber and road-damage concerns.

County staff told the board the draft ordinance has been revised since its first reading and includes a code map showing roads proposed for permitted PTV use. Ian, a county GIS analyst, cautioned the map "isn't a legal map" and noted data limitations, including lack of reliable road-width information; he said the map assumes gravel roads are two-lane where the statute refers to two-lane gravel roads.

Commissioners pressed staff on costs and logistics. Staff estimated roughly 170 signs would be needed for the roads highlighted in red on the map at about $175 per sign — about $29,000 in materials — and said installation would take additional time. Staff also noted the road department's assigned annual budget is about $30,000, and board members discussed whether signage and installation could be covered from that fund.

Tribal coordination featured prominently. County staff said Sergeant Layman, who works with CTUIR, indicated the county's signs would generally be sufficient and that tribal representatives do not want ATV use inside the reservation. The board discussed placing signs where users leave tribal land and relying on reminder-based interactions rather than immediate enforcement when ATV users cross reservation boundaries.

Board members identified multiple map anomalies — short or illogical road segments and some roads that begin in Washington — and asked staff to compile a list of candidate removals and edits. With those questions unresolved, the board agreed it was premature to adopt the ordinance at second reading and voted to continue the matter to the next meeting for further review and edits.

The board did not adopt or modify the ordinance at this meeting; staff were directed to refine the map, clarify signage plans and continue tribal coordination before the next hearing.